Hydraulic clutch



Oct. 18, 1932. A, GELLERT 1,883,365

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH Filed May 2 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2g Ge (/81"? INVENTOR ATTORNEVS Oct. 18,1932. I v A. GELLERT 1,383,365

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH Filed May 2'7, 1931 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 5 invention consists in Patented Oct. 18, 1932 ANTHONY GELLERT,

0F BROOKLYN, NEW- YOBI v nrnaaumc cnn'rcn application filed Kay 27,

This invention relates to hydraulic clutches especially adapted for operation between a power medium and a driven device and has for the primary object, the provision of a device of the above stated character which will be positive in operation and consist o few parts for assurin economical operation and low cost of menu acture and which will be durable and efiicient for use wherever it is desired to connect and disconnect two rotating devices, whereby one device may be driven from the other device with smoothness and quietness.

With this and 0 her objects in view, this of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding ofmy invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which 1 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a hydraulic clutch constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating a driving member with cylinders and chambers carried thereby.

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly broken awa illustrating a control valve.

Figure 5 is an end view of a control valve.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a non-movable piston or head.

Referrin in detail to t e drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a drive member including a cylindrical body 2 having marginal flanges 3 at the ends thereof and one end of the ody 2 has detachably secured thereto an end plate 4 provided with a centrally located bearing opening) 5. The other end of the d y a removable plate 6 which projects beyond the outer face of the body and is provided with a centrally located hearing opening 7 disposed in alignment with the bearing opening 5 and has mounted therein a bearing sleeve 8 to rotatably support one end -of a crank shaft 9 that extends through the drive member and the bearing opening 5 of 1931. Serial No. 540,415.

and

f the crank shaft 9.

Walls 11 are formed integral with the body 2 of the drive member 1 to form a plurality of radially arranged chambers B and the outer edges of the walls 11 are flanged to be engaged by removable heads 12 for closing the chambers B and said chambers are in communication with the main chamber A by ports 13." Cylinders 14 are formed integral with the walls 11 within the chambers 13 and also communicate with said chambers B and the mainv chamber A and have slidably mounted-therein pistons 15 provided with rings 16. The pistons 15 are arranged radially about the crank 17 of the crank shaft 9 and have their inner ends cut away to form recesses 18 in which are pivotally mounted the outer ends of connecting rods 19. The inner ends of the connecting rods are mounted on the crank 17 and by referring to Figure 1 it will be noted that the inner ends 0 the connecting rods are of the sectional bearing typedetachably connected by stud bolts 20 to permit the inner ends of the connecting rods to be assembled on the crank 17 laterally of each other and permits adjustment of the connecting rods onv the crank to compensate for wear.

A sleeve 21 is secured to the crank shaft 9 and extends into the chamber A by way of the bearing opening 5 of the end plate 4 and has formed integral with the inner en The. interior of the drive thereof a non-slidablepiston or head 22 provided with an expansion or packing ring that contacts-with acontrol valve 24. The control valve is in the form of a piston having rings 25 to engage the inner walls of the I drive member 1 and said valve has formed integral therewith a sleeve 26 slidably re ceived in the bearing opening 5 and surrounds the sleeve 21 and is grooved to receive a suitable operating lever or mechanism 27 whereby the valve 24 may be slid in opposite directions within the drive member. The slee e 26 of the valve has a comparatively tight fit '2 I 1,aes,ees

with the sleeve 21 and the bearing opening to the spirit and scope of my invention, asprevent leakage from the chamber A. The claimed. valve 24 being substantially of a piston con Having thus described my. invention, what struetion provides a skirt portion 28 which is I claim is:

5 tapered toward its free ed a shown in A hydraulic clutch comprising a drive 70 Figure 1. with the non-slida i e head 22 and .member adapted for connection to a power its ring 23 enga ing the inner wall of themedium and havin a main fluid chamber, a skirt. The hear? 0 thevalve is provided crank shaft journafled'in said drive member with a lurality of openings 29 to permit air and adapted to be connected to a device to be trapped between the end plate4 and the valve driven, radially extending members on the 75 to pass through said valve during the movedrive member and forming auxiliary chamment thereof and thereb reduce to a minibers, said drive member having orts between mum the resistance of the air against said the chambers, cylinders carried y'the radialvalve. ly extending members and the drive member A power medium (not shown) maybe and in communication with the chamber, pis- 30 coupled to the end plate 6 in any suitable tons slidabhe in'the cylinders and connected way for the purpose of imparting rotation to the crank shaft, a non-slidable head in the tothe member 1 or a pulley'casing 30 is promain chamber, a sleeve valve between the vided over which may be trained a power head and the walls of the main chamber for belt for imparting rotation to the drive memcontrolling the ports, and means for varying her 1. The pulley casing 30 is constructed the position of the valve relative to the ports. from sections 31 and 32 having their ad'a- In testimony whereof I aifix m signature. cent edges arranged in overlapped relation ANTHONY GE LLERT. and detachably connected by fasteners 33-.

25 The section 32 includes an end wall 34 provided. with a bearing opening 35 resting tightly against an annular bearing or shoulder 36 formed integral with the outer face of the drive member 1. The section 31 includes an end wall orflange 37 arranged in overlapped relation with the end plate 6 and detachabl? secured thereto by fasteners 38; thus it wil be seen that the pulley casing can be easily removed from the drive member 35 1 when desiring to remove the heads 12 for aining' access to the interior vof the chamers 13 and cylinders 14'.

In operation the chambers A and B are substantially filled with a suitable fluid and with power delivered to the drive member 1 and a resistance on the crank shaft 9 and with the valve 24 positioned to fully open the ports 13, the drive member may be rotated free of the crank shaft. With the valve 24 positioned.

to close the ports the fluid within the chambers 11 B will be prevented from flowing into the chamber A and vice versa and the resistance of the fluid against the pistons will cause rotation o the crank shaft with the rotation 50 of the drive member 1. By varying the size p of the ports 13 throu h the adjustment of the valve 24 the flow of% drive member 1 or in other words, a reduc- 3 may be had over thespeed of rotation of the drive member 1, thus providing a device capable of transmitting variable speeds between the ower medium and the driven device.

wime I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will understood that minor changes in con- .struction,'combination and arrangement of I parts may be made without departing from 

